NFL free agency

11 Mar 14

49ers re-sign kicker to a two-year deal

The San Francisco 49ers will welcome kicker Phil Dawson back into the fold. (Bob Donnan – USA TODAY Sports)

By NATE DAVIS

The San Francisco 49ers know the margin of error in the hyper-competitive NFC West continues to shrink. With that in mind, they cut a new two-year deal Tuesday with Phil Dawson, who stabilized a kicking game that had gone off the rails in 2012.

“Phil has been a consummate pro and clutch performer his entire career and we are pleased that he has chosen to continue on with the 49ers,” said Niners GM Trent Baalke in a statement.

“It was important to this organization to have a veteran kicker like Phil as we enter our first season in a new stadium.”

Dawson did a nice job judging the winds of Candlestick Park in 2013 and drilled 32 of 36 field-goal tries overall and all 44 of his extra points. He set a new franchise record by converting 27 consecutive field goals.

After solving the Stick and Cleveland – Dawson’s success rate on field goals during 14 years with the Browns was 84% — he should have little trouble reading the flags at the Niners’ new yard, Levi’s Stadium.